The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily finally arrives

by Claire La Combe

13/03/2018 - The animated film by Lorenzo Mattotti was presented at Cartoon Movie "in full production"

The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily by LorenzoMattotti and produced by the French company Prima Linea since 2012, was presented this year at Cartoon Movie "in full production." And the first images are very promising.

The session was held behind closed doors on Thursday morning, so we don't have any images to show you yet, but it's well worth the wait. Adapted from Dino Buzzati’s book by the great illustrator Mattotti, the animated feature film The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily almost didn't get made. It's with this warning that Valérie Schermann (Producer, Prima Linea) began her presentation: "I want to start by introducing our partners on this film because financing it was very very hard!" 18 partners have made the €11 million budget possible: the French outfit Prima Linea Productions, France 3 Cinema, Pathé, the CNC, Canal+, Ciné+, the Region of Ile-de-France, the Region of New Aquitaine, the Department of Charente, the GAN Foundation, MEDIA Europe Créative, Procirep and Angoa, and the Italian outfits Indigo Film, Rai Cinema and MIBACT, with Pathé and Wild Bunch handling international sales. "I would like to say thank you thank you thank you to the CNC! We have been given an incredible opportunity in France!"

The turbines at the studios in Paris and Angouleme are currently running at full speed to animate and create this crazy adventure – full of vibrant colours –something that only Lorenzo Mattotti is capable of delivering while respecting Buzzati's illustrations. No doubt it will be an important film for 2019.

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